[Network] username: leonskennedy | ota

[needsabreak]

[The camera angle isn't the most flattering, hinting that the tired looking young man isn't too used to camera phones.]

Hi. My name's Leon Kennedy. I'm new. I know a handful of people here are new too but some have been here before. I guess, I'm hoping to talk to a few people who are returning about the things you know about this place. Talking over this thing is fine but I'd prefer to meet in person.

Anyone who's returning who'd be alright meeting in person, I'll throw a drink on me into the deal. Your choice, beer or coffee.

Comments

[bossyboiler]

Nevermind what? [ She won't let him get away with not speaking his mind if she can possibly can. ]

Don't you have anymore questions?

[needsabreak]

It's okay. I was just wondering, if those are the times you weren't that affected, what were the prominences where you were heavily affected like? But you really don't have to answer. I think, I have an idea of what to expect. No need to make you relive any of that.

[He continues with the chairs, finding it easier to have something to keep him busy.]

I dunno... anything you wish you'd known when you first got here?

[bossyboiler]

Thank you. I'd rather not talk about the heavier prominences. I appreciate your understanding.

[ She gets up and starts back to helping with the chairs. ]

That there's actual criminal elements to this City. That I shouldn't sell powers to make easy cash.

[needsabreak]

Makes sense, it's a pretty big city. Anything specific? Or the usual - a bit of everything?

[He flips another chair down off a table and sets it down.]

You were selling power? What, were you stealing it or siphoning it or whatever first? I could see how that'd piss a few people off. [He'd either misheard her or decided he'd misheard her.]

[bossyboiler]

It's the usual bit of everything.

No. I was selling my own abilities. I'm a mutant. Oh. You probably don't know what this is. [ A sigh. ] On the Earth that I'm from, there are a lot of different species of humanoids some of which have powers. I'm one of them.

[needsabreak]

[He pauses, chair still in hand and looks like he's trying to remember something.]

I have heard of mutants... someone else- it was at a party one of the magistrates put on, I think. I met a woman with green hair who could mess up forks. She told me all about mutants. Are you and her from the same place?

So, what do you do? Something with electricity? [He's still hung up on the 'power' thing and thinking of it literally.]

[bossyboiler]

Is her name Lorna? We might be. There are different universes you know.

[ Kate knows who immediately Leon is speaking of. (But she doesn't know that it's a different version of her friend. She'll have to find that out on her own. Shh! It's a secret.) ]

No. I have a healing factor and I can let people borrow it.

[needsabreak]

That sounds right. I think so.

[He nods, finally setting the chair down. He pauses before moving to the next one, hands on the backrest of the chair, he leans against it as he tilts his head a little, obviously not quite following.]

What's that mean? What's a 'healing factor'? Does that mean you can heal people?

[bossyboiler]

A healing factor means I heal more quickly than others and that's right. I can heal people.

[needsabreak]

Like... how much more quickly? And what do you have to do to heal other people? Both of those sound like they'd be really helpful after the prominences or... -Someone told me about some shadow creature thing. You know anything about those?

[bossyboiler]

Like a lot more quickly. Look. I'm not going to give you a demonstration. I still feel pain. [ She puts a chair down. ] I can heal people by laying hands on them.

You mean the shadow demons¹? I know a little bit about them. I'd be wary around the shadows. They can cause hallucinations to say the least. I had a brief run in once. It wasn't pleasant.

[needsabreak]

No, that's fine. [He's quick to chime in when she mentions a demonstration. Even if she didn't feel pain, he wouldn't want her to go through an injury, even a minor one, just to sate his curiosity.]

Yeah, shadow demons sound about right. The guy I was talking to mentioned the hallucinations. Was the one you ran into hard to kill?

[bossyboiler]

Thank you. [ She really doesn't want to give a demonstration and she hopes that she'll never have to use her powers on Leon. ]

I... um... Didn't kill it. I ran away.

[needsabreak]

That was probably a good idea. If what I heard is true, the thing didn't care at all when it was shot at.

[Only a handgun had been used though, so Leon hadn't completely given up on firepower. It's all he really has after all.]

I'm hoping it didn't hurt you and you got away. Or did you experience the temporary death thing that happens?

[bossyboiler]

I don't know how to kill them really. I don't have that ability. Running was my best option.

[ She shakes her head. ]

No. I haven't died here yet but some others have.

[needsabreak]

You never know, maybe they'd react adversely to your healing thing. But better safe than sorry. Maybe we'll end up being able to trap one and actually dig into things.

[He glances around the room as he sets the chair down, not seeing any others still on the tables.]

Good.

Do you want me to do anything else? I don't mind wiping these tables down if you'd like.

[bossyboiler]

Huh. I've never considered that before. Maybe but you have all the fun you want trying to trap one. They aren't solid. I don't think a simple net will work.

[ But let him try. Maybe it'll give him purpose and something to do. ]

No. You've done enough for me already. Besides, you brought me coffee too. I can't ask for more than that.

[needsabreak]

They're not solid? Ever? [Well, that didn't seem fair.

Of course, he's still going to try. He's met a few people claiming they can do magic. he doesn't really believe them, but maybe between them, they'll sort something out.]

You sure? I really don't mind. Gives me something to do.

[bossyboiler]

Not the shadow ones, no. But I may be wrong and maybe they've evolved. Like I said, the last time I encountered one I ran away.

[ She's not proud of having run away but it is what it is. She had survived. ]

Are you sure?

[needsabreak]

Am I sure I want to help you out around here?

[He smirks a little, not sure what kind of question that is.]

I wouldn't be offering if I didn't want to. [And what's his alternative? Leave to spend the rest of the evening alone in his apartment or wander around the city? Neither sounds too fulfilling.]

[bossyboiler]

Yeah. I'm curious about your commitment levels. Oh. Don't worry. I'll more than make it up to you when I get this place open and running but for right now I have a lot of work to do.

Good. You can start by wiping down the tables and then the chairs.

[needsabreak]

[He smiles softly and shakes his head.] You don't have to "pay me back". I really don't mind helping you out.

[Once she gets him set with a cloth and soapy water, he gets to work.] Is this what you do back in your own world? Run a bakery?

[bossyboiler]

If you insist. [ She'll let him insist but she's going to pay him back anyway. Kate knows that cleaning is boring work for most others. Tedious, in fact. ]

Oh, no. Not at all. I mean I baked a lot but it was more of a hobby. I used to help mutants. You could say that I'm like a glorified social worker. I'd help them get jobs. Figure out beneficial ways to use their powers. Help them get aid if they needed it. That sort of thing.

What about you?

[needsabreak]

Really? Very impressive. It sounds like really important and rewarding work. [He looks up from the table he's wiping down to give her a smile.

He hesitates a little when she throws the question back at him. Honestly, he should've learned by now not to ask people about what they did because it inevitably meant they'd ask about him.]

Uh. I guess you could say I clean up messes. [Just a little bit vague. He's scrubbing again when he realizes what he said could be misinterpreted, so he quickly adds an addendum.] I'm not a criminal.

[bossyboiler]

It is. I'm very happy at what I did. I was good at it too.

Well then, what kind of messes do you clean up? Are you with one of those companies that goes in after a disaster and tries to rebuild?